Audio 3:20
Peter Greste asks Tony Abbott to 'speak out'

Hayden CooperUpdated
Thu Mar 06 08:55:00 EST 2014

Australian journalist Peter Greste has called on the Australian Government to do more to free him from prison in Egypt. Greste and his colleagues have made their second appearance in court in Cairo. During a brief recess, Greste said he's generally fine, but wants Prime Minister Tony Abbott to speak out.

Transcript

CHRIS UHLMANN: Australian journalist Peter Greste has called on the Federal Government to do more to free him from prison in Egypt.

Greste and his colleagues have made their second appearance in court in Cairo. The defence tried to discredit the case when the first witnesses were called. And in a brief recess Greste says he's generally fine but wants the Prime Minister to speak out.

Middle East correspondent Hayden Cooper was in the court for AM.

(Sound of woman speaking)

HAYDEN COOPER: Outside Tora Prison, a woman complains on behalf of the thousands of prisoners in Egypt's jails, including her husband.

(Sound of woman speaking)

Today she was joined by family members of foreign journalists here again for a trial they can't quite believe is still going.

Mohamed Fahmy's brother Adel is increasingly worried.

ADEL FAHMY: He seemed more down than ever. I mean very demoralised, yeah he's, you know, it's taking a big toll on him and his colleagues now.

HAYDEN COOPER: Andrew Greste has seen his brother three times in the past fortnight. In court today he saw him again from a distance. As Peter Greste was brought in wearing white prison clothes, he was shackled to his fellow defendants.

ANDREW GRESTE: We're all, all wanting it to end, I guess. So I guess we just try and deal with it the best way we can and, you know, obviously it's something that I never thought I'd have to do and the family would never have to do but, you know, it's what we got to deal with, so.

HAYDEN COOPER: The hearing began with the judge listing the so-called evidence in the case - cameras, tripods, lights, computers, and paperwork - standard materials for journalists.

Then the first witness was called by the defence - a police investigator who started the case. Under questioning he failed to provide any specifics on the alleged crime.

"How did you put the case together," he was asked?

"With secret sources at the Hotel Marriott," was the answer.

After the hearing adjourned Andrew Greste was more upbeat.

ANDREW GRESTE: Of course, I've got to be happy. He was definitely happy to see me there so, which is good. You know, he knows that we're supporting him as best we can.

HAYDEN COOPER: Did you feel like the defence case took a step forward today with that witness who appeared?

ANDREW GRESTE: Oh look, that's my, my understanding of today's events, that it definitely, there definitely wasn't anything that was incriminating from them.

HAYDEN COOPER: Peter Greste again had no translator in court. He complained about it to the judge. And once more, he was able to shout messages to journalists.

He was asked if the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is doing enough.

"We need him to speak out," he said. "Everybody from the White House down has given their support to us. We haven't heard from the Prime Minister."

The case was adjourned until March the 24th.

This is Hayden Cooper in Cairo for AM.

CHRIS UHLMAN: And spokesman for the Prime Minister says the Government has made a number of representations in support of Mr Greste's release. He says the Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has personally raised concerns about his arrest with the Egyptian government and authorities and will continue to make representations to secure his release.

The spokesman says the Government strongly supports a free media and is deeply concerned at the charges laid against Mr Greste.